How You Can Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month on Campus
Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual event meant to educate, recognize and celebrate the positive impact that Latinx Hispanics have left on the country. Latinx is a term now adapted and used in order to be more inclusive of more identities.
It began in 1968 when President Lyndon B. Johnson announced the first National Hispanic Heritage Week. However, it wasn’t until 1988 when Congress finally decided to extend the annual celebration from a week to a month. On September 15 begins the celebration of the independence of Latin countries, and Hispanic Heritage month is a 30 days full of music, food, art, books and more!
Now, how do we celebrate amidst a pandemic? No worries at all. Organizations on campus, such as El Centro and the Latinx-Hispanic Union, have taken precautions and planned safe activities in order for the community to celebrate safely.
There are also other activities that you can do right from your dorm, including reading a novel by a Latinx author or supporting a Latinx business.
Maybe unbeknownst to some of us, a lot of the things in daily life around us come from the Latinx culture, from food and music to fashion to beauty.
Below, we listed ways you can contribute to the celebration of Latinx Hispanics on campus and around the country!
El Centro and Latinx-Hispanic Union
El Centro and the LatinxHispanic Union are organizations on campus that strive to create a space for community building, identity exploration and advocacy for Latinx-Hispanic students while also promoting diversity. For this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month, they have many events and activities planned. Visit them on their social media pages to find out what’s coming up!
Music
Music is a huge feature of Latinx culture. Artists such as Mark Anthony, Celia Cruz, Aventura and Selena Quintanilla are just a few of the names that many grew up listening to. Today, there are various names in different genres that are making headlines such as Bad Bunny, Becky G, J Balvin and Maluma. To listen, head over to your favorite music platform and search “Latin Hit Mix”, “¡Viva Latino!” or “Latin Divas.”
Books
Reading is a hugely beneficial part of learning about Latinx culture. Readers are educated about the culture, what society standards and treatment are like, family expectations and day-to-day life. Here are a few suggestions:
We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia
“In this daring and romantic fantasy debut perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale and Latinx authors Zoraida Córdova and Anna-Marie McLemore, society wife-in-training Dani has a great awakening after being recruited by rebel spies and falling for her biggest rival.” -AMAZON
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
“Fans of Jacqueline Woodson, Meg Medina, and Jason Reynolds will fall hard for this astonishing New York Times-bestselling novel-in-verse by an award-winning slam poet, about an Afro-Latina heroine who tells her story with blazing words and powerful truth.” -AMAZON
AOC: The Fearless Rise and Powerful Resonance of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
“AOC investigates her symbolic and personal significance for so many, from her willingness to use her imperfect bilingualism, to why men are so threatened by her power, to the long history of Puerto Rican activism that she joins. Contributors span a wide range of voices and ages, from media to the arts and politics.” -AMAZON
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silva Morena-Garcia
“The Mayan god of death sends a young woman on a harrowing, life-changing journey in this dark, one-of-a-kind fairy tale inspired by Mexican folklore.” -AMAZON
Local Businesses
With recent growth in support for local small businesses, what better time to support Latinx business (and beyond October 15 too). Below are a few businesses that sell cute, must-have items and amazing food.
In My Thread by PERLA: personalized embroidered keychains by our own Elon alumna
Crafts by Ci: personalized reusable cups, sticks and glass albums by a fellow Elon student
EL CARBONERO : just 12 minutes away in Graham, serving dishes from all over Central and South America.